Radiologist eats 'world's hottest curry'... and survives!

A consultant radiologist from the U.K. has become the first person to finish what is reputedly the world's hottest curry. Dr. Ian Rothwell took more than an hour to eat "The Widower," which tops 6 million units on the Scoville scale, is hotter than a drink of antiriot tear gas, and must be prepared by chefs wearing goggles and a face mask.

More than 300 people had failed to eat the superspicy meal at the Bindi restaurant in Grantham, Lincolnshire, reportedly having been left sweating, crying, shaking, and vomiting. Rothwell tackled it at a family dinner on Thursday evening and said that completing the challenge was harder than climbing Mount Kilimanjaro last year.

"I felt absolutely fine afterward, and was back at work the next day. I even had another curry on Saturday night!" he told BBC Radio 2's "Jeremy Vine Show" today (Monday). He said several national newspaper reports that the meal had induced hallucinations were untrue, but he admitted the curry was "off the scale" and he needed to take a stroll outside after 40 minutes.

Rothwell had to sign a disclaimer form acknowledging his awareness of the risks involved with eating the curry, which he washed down with a bottle of Cobra lager.

"This curry got hotter and hotter as I went on and it was a struggle to finish, but I was determined to succeed," he told the Daily Mail newspaper. "The owner offered me a glass of milk to help with the hotness, but I decided to stick with beer and I think that helped. He said I was hallucinating, but I think it was just the endorphins from all the chilies."

For anybody wishing to put themselves through a similar ordeal, he advises people to eat slowly and not drink too much.

"Dr. Rothwell is a legend as far as I'm concerned," said the restaurant's managing director and executive chef, Muhammed Karim, noting that most people manage about seven mouthfuls before they give up. "I have tried 'The Widower' and it really is a killer. Even making it is a painful experience! We even had to ring an ambulance once."

According to the website of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Rothwell qualified as a doctor at the University of Leeds in 1981, and his special interests are vascular and interventional radiology, and neuroimaging. He attributes his iron constitution to his student days.

"I went to university in Leeds in the 80s and got exposed to curries," he told the Grantham People newspaper. "It was a cheap way of eating and I've always enjoyed them hot."

Anybody wishing to emulate Rothwell's achievement can read more about the restaurant by clicking here. Also, you may want to try out the recipe yourself (see below).

The Widower curry recipe

1 small teaspoon of pure naga extracts (6 million Scovilles)
5 Scotch bonnets (variety of chili pepper)
8 finger chilies
3 teaspoons of extra hot chili powder
Bindi spice mix
Chopped onions
Tablespoon of salt